Surgeon&#39;s prethreaded needle holder



March 11, 1952 J. TAUBER 2,588,589

SURGEONS PRETHREADED NEEDLE HOLDER m Filed Dec. 14, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Jaw M M i atented Mar. 11, 1952 SURGEONS PRETHBEADED NEEDLE HOLDER Joseph Tauber, Springfield, Mass.

Application December 14, 1950, Serial No. 200,846

4 Claims. (Cl. 223109) This invention relates to improvements in holders for sutures.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of a suture device or holder for sutures which is constructed and arranged to hold or support a plurality of sutures and associated needles in such a manner that a suture or sutures are readily available to the surgeon when operating.

According to one feature of the invention, the device is so constructed and arranged that a plurality of sutures are held in distended separated relation with the needles associated therewith held in separated relation whereby a needle and suture may be easily and readily engaged by the surgeon which is necessary. 1

The device is of such arrangement and construction that sutures and associated needles carried by the holder may be readily and easily sterilized so as to be in readiness for use.

As a further feature of th invention, the device is arranged and constructed to accommodate sutures of various lengths for which reason the device is adapted for wide use.

All of the above objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by various specific features which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred. to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device for sutures embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view with parts in section of one of the sides of the device.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

The device of the invention represented by 2 includes longitudinal side members 4, which at opposite ends are held in transversely spaced relation by end struts 8 and 8.

The side members 4 are preferably formed by relatively movable members I!) and I2 arranged to adjust the distance apart of the struts 8 and 8.

The adjustment of the struts may be accomplished in various ways but according to the form of the invention disclosed, each side member consists of an end member l0 which is slidable in an opposite end member [2.

Inner ends of the members l2 are split longitudinally as at M in Fig. 3 and are externally threaded at I6. The inner ends of the members l2 are contractable so as to grip the members i ll and said ends have outer tapering sides as at l8.

Manually engageable clamp nuts 20 are in threaded engagement with the threaded portions of the members 12 and have inner faces complemental to the tapering sides l8.

As the nuts 20 are turned in one direction, the inner ends of members l2 are contracted to grip members l0. When turned in an opposite direction, the members In are released.

Thus by operation of the nuts, the members It] and I2 may be moved relatively longitudinally to position the struts 8 at the desired distance apart. Any other means may be employed to lock the members 10 and I2 in any desired relative position.

The struts 8 and 8" are secured to the members Ill and I2 by having opposite ends welded or otherwise fixed thereto.

The said struts are provided with longitudinally spaced guide grooves 22 and 24 which may be formed in the struts in any suitable manner.

Outer ends 24 of the members I ll are arranged to receive opposite ends 26 of a needle holder 28. This needle holder will preferably be in the form of a coil spring rather tightly wound and adapted to yieldingly grip needles between the convolutions 30 thereof and hold them against accidental displacement.

Sutures represented by 32 and which may be of silk, gut or the like, extend around the struts 8 and 8 and in the grooves 22 and 24 thereof and have their opposite ends knotted as at 34.

The members I!) and I2 may be adjusted to space the struts apart so as to accommodate sutures of the desired length.

The sutures extend through the eyes of needles, as is usual, and the needles 36 are yieldingly held between the convolutions 39 of the member 28. Thus the sutures are held in separated relation against snarling and the needles are held against entanglement.

The device with the sutures may be sterilized as a unit and a plurality of sutures and associated needles are readily available when needed.

Any suture may be cut so that by engaging its associated needle so that the same may be re- 3 moved for use without interference with other sutures and needles.

As explained, the device may be adjusted for sutures of the desired length and are held in such condition as to be ready for use at all times.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departin from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A suture holder comprising in combination, elongated side members and transverse struts having spaced grooves and being secured to said side members at their opposite ends holding said side members in transversely spaced relation, and a needle holder extending between said side members at one end thereof.

2. A suture holder comprising in combination, elongated side members and transverse struts secured thereto at their opposite ends holding said side members in transversely spaced relation, and a needle holder extending between said side members at one end thereof, said struts consisting of elonated members provided with longitudinally spaced guide grooves to receive and support a suture.

3. A suture holder comprising in combination, elongated side members and transverse struts secured thereto at their opposite ends holding said side members in transversely spaced relation, and a needle holder extending between said side members at one end thereof, said struts consisting of elongated members provided with longitudinally spaced guide grooves to receive and support a suture, said needle holder including a helical spring-like yieldable member having relatively yieldable convolutions for yieldingly embracing therebetween needles associated with sutures.

4. A suture holder comprising in combination. elongated side members and transverse struts secured thereto at their opposite ends holding said side members in transversely spaced relation, and a needle holder extending between said side members at one end thereof, said struts consisting of elongated members rovided with lon gitudinally spaced guide grooves to receive and support a suture, said needle holder including a helical spring-like yieldable member having relatively yieldable convolutions for yieldingly embracing therebetween needles associated with su tures, said side members arranged for adjustment to vary the distance between said struts to accommodate sutures of different lengths and means holding said members in adjusted relation.

JOSEPH TAUBER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Randall June 20, 1933 Number 

